New to me 2006 MCS Convertible Hyper Blue

Discussion in 'Starting Line - New Member Introductions' started by BrianC72bgt, Apr 2, 2013.

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  1. BrianC72bgt

    BrianC72bgt New Member

    Mar 26, 2013
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    #1 BrianC72bgt, Apr 2, 2013
    Just got one a few weeks ago with a TON of miles on it for small dollars. Looks great, runs great, single owner since new, dealer maintenance records from day 1, new clutch just before I bought it.

    I spin my own wrenches since birth, and currently flog a 2000 A8 (160K miles), bought off lease on....E-Bay in 04...with 40K miles. I've done EVERY maintenance job short of a 6 speed manual swap on this tank, but it guzzles fuel. I can't fit my two daughters on the back of the Multistrada 1200S, so convertible it is.

    I rely on VAG COM from Ross Tech to code control modules, alter transmission shift maps, clear and read fault codes etc in the Audi. Is there a Mini (BMW) equivalent?

    At just over 100K miles on little blue, I figure I've got some preventative maintenance to do. Supercharger oil? add a refill tube? Serpentine belt? Tensioner and tensioner catcher thingie? Gearbox oil? fuel, air, oil and cabin filters? Window controller mod?

    Which vendors for the maintenance bits do you guys recommend?

    TIA,

    Brian C.

    Banished to NorCal, forever from NYC
     
  2. Friskie

    Friskie Well-Known Member

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    #2 Friskie, Apr 2, 2013
    Good find! Solid, W11 cast iron engine and Getrag gear box will give you lots more miles of service. Sounds like you are prepared to take good care of it.

    Some other things to look to: Get in the habit of rotating your tires about every 5 thousand miles. The built in negative camber will unevenly wear the rear tires. Keep the canvas clean and treated with either 303 fabric guard or RaggTopp and clean it regularly. You don't want grit cutting into the fabric. Look around in ebay or other sources for a R52 wind deflector. This will make topless motoring an even greater pleasure.

    Sure do hope you get a lot of fun out of your MINI!

    Here are a few URLs you may find useful in becoming a MINI person:
    Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada
    Top Tier Gasoline
    Mini Cooper Info. 1st gen. Minis, Mini Parts, Mini performance, Mini specs This has hundreds of independent MINI shops all across the country.
    LightInSight - Windshield Mounted Traffic Light Lens They are out of stock right now, but you really want one of these.
    MotorcycleRoads.US - Great Motorcycle Roads in the US
    MotoringFile | MotoringFile | MINI news, reviews and opinion. MINI Cooper, Cooper S, Clubman, Countryman
    RealOEM.com * Diagram Selection
     
  3. SooperCooperInfo

    SooperCooperInfo Member

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    #3 SooperCooperInfo, Apr 3, 2013
    It's always prudent to change out all fluids on a first gen MINI if no maintenance records exist. Congrats!!
     
  4. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #4 Nathan, Apr 3, 2013
    Welcome, thanks for joining Motoring Alliance, the FUN and Friendly MINI Community.
     
  5. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #5 Crashton, Apr 3, 2013
    Welcome to M/A....
     
  6. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #6 MCS02, Apr 3, 2013
    Welcome to the fun
     
  7. eMINIparts

    eMINIparts Well-Known Member
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    #7 eMINIparts, Apr 3, 2013
    Welcome to the AWARD winning COOLest MINI forum on the net!
     
  8. BrianC72bgt

    BrianC72bgt New Member

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    #8 BrianC72bgt, Apr 10, 2013
    Thank you all for the warm welcome. I've been enjoying the car tremendously, but I do need to swap out all the fluids pronto...just to have a starting reference point. I've got a suction type or fluid extractor that I've used for oil changes, and I was wondering if I could swap the supercharger oil without removing the unit.

    I also get the faint smell of a of what I believe is a burning belt after a high rev wind through the gears. Is that a common occurrence? Thinking maybe the supercharger belt is slipping? dunno... I've been keeping a close watch of all the fluid levels...alll good, no changes, no visible smoke.

    Thanks again for the great advice.

    Brian
     
  9. rum4

    rum4 Club Coordinator
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    #9 rum4, Apr 10, 2013
    welcome to m/a
     
  10. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
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    #10 mrntd, Apr 10, 2013
    Welcome Aboard!
     
  11. SooperCooperInfo

    SooperCooperInfo Member

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    #11 SooperCooperInfo, Apr 10, 2013
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2013
    Access to the supercharger is a pita since one nearly has to dismantle the front end. So when the time comes to service my SC I will consider adding one of these:Imperial MINI.
     
  12. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

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    #12 ZippyNH, Apr 10, 2013
    Welcome to M/A!!
    Above all else, go out and enjoy your car!!
    Many folks start to do "repairs" on stuff that is still ok, and can make things worse!! Sure these cars have weak points, but a few OCD folks go crazy sometimes it makes some of these cars sound like unreliable death traps!!
    To put it in perspective My car has been to the dealer 3 times since new...
    and had "upgrades" done at an aftermarket 3rd party a few times..bushings, struts, etc, when I don't feel like diy'ing it.
    There are some many ONE item issues that ONLY SOME cars have, like repeated PS failures, or SC lube issues, or low speed cooing fan, etc...don't let the reading of all that stuff make you think you WILL have those issues...some do, some don't.
    Many a SC has gone 100,000+ miles....as have PS pumps and cooling fans!!
    So enjoy the car, and know IF an issue comes up, the info is around to help you fix it!!
    Swapping the belt is a good thing..check for markings to see if it is an OEM pulley, or a smaller one....post what you find, and we will get you a belt size!
    IMO the oem is good for about 3 years, 2 years with a 15% reduction, and 1 year with a 17%...the smaller belts are used with reductions, and the smaller surface the grab with the reduction can cause a bit of wear...and many of them WILL start to slip as they get old.
    Fluid changes can be good to learn about your car, just do some research to find WHICH fluids...the PS pump uses a special fluid for example, and the Tranny oil recomedned changed based up if a LSD was offered in the year you bought the car...
     
  13. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #13 Dave.0, Apr 10, 2013
    Welcome to M/A the FUN Mini site. :Thumbsup:
     

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